NTPC, Petronet negotiate

NTPC, implementing the Kayamkulam power plant in Kerala, has sought long-term pricing comfort from Petronet LNG (PLL). The request comes after four state governments conveyed their unwillingness to sign power purchase agreements (PPAs) as the cost of power works out to be high. For PLL, signing of a gas sales purchase agreement (GSPA) with NTPC is crucial since it has regasification terminal 120 km away from the power plant and provides a surety of offtake to the marketers of regasified LNG (RLNG). GAIL is putting up pipelines. NTPC has not yet signed GSPA because at that very high rate of LNG, that works out to Rs 8 a unit.